Crouch vital to Euro success says Rafa (AUDIO)

While Crouch again failed to score in the game with Real Betis, he did put in a man-of-the-match performance to earn the praise of his team-mates and his manager who believes Crouch is a vital player if Liverpool are to pick up a sixth European Cup in Paris next May.

"He [Crouch] has been the key for us in qualifying for the last 16 and he will continue to be the key when we start the tournament again in the new year intent on defending the trophy we won in Istanbul last season," says Benitez.

"Peter is playing really well, he was man of the match because he gives us all the things that we need. He controls the centre-backs, he heads the ball, he keeps the ball, he passes, dribbles and shoots. We have qualified because he, for me has been the key to everything we do. He has played really well."

Click here for audio